Planning ahead - in case the volcano continues

pretzelnut

We are supposed to be going to turkey - all inclusive in 2 weeks, although i am slowly starting to think we might not get there, especially if the volcano continues to erupt and it continues to cause havoc with our airlines. better to start accepting the possibilty now and slowly get the kids used to the slight possibilty instead of them waking up on the day and being devastated.

Now we booked a package holiday through thomas cook and took out their insurance, so am i correct in thinking that thomas cook would have to re-book or refund.

Im also assuming that if we were to rebook for in a few weeks time we would have a massive difference in cost to pay. We also wouldnt be able to get insurance as its now a known event.

Secondly - we could end up flying if the ash cloud clears but lets say hypotheciacally that half way through our holiday its starts erupting and causing air space to be closed down again, where do we stand then. Would we be covered by our insurance still, or would we be left out in the cold as it was a known event when we travelled.

We dont have credit cards to fall back on and we wouldnt be able to pay out any extra expenses up front. And we wouldnt be able to rely on friends and family to lend us cash either as they are all struggling themselves as it is. This really worries me especially as we are travelling with 3 children, 1 of which is a baby.

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Best advice is to call Thomas Cook and ask for advice. Also same with your insurers. No one can say on here for sure what TC or your insurers will or won't do.

Most insurers it seems don't cover for this citing Act of God or adverse weather conditions.

I was on hold to the two airline carriers we are due to fly with this Thursday / Friday for half an hour each time, however, finally managed to get through to CS. Both Emirates and Qantas advised they will move our flights to a new date or time if our flights are cancelled this Thursday.

Our travel insurance does not cover this type of event however.

To put your mind at rest, give them a call... and sit down with a cuppa tea as you'll probably be in for a long wait. Don't give up though. At least when you know the position of TC and your insurer you can start to think through alternate travel ideas.

wealdroam

princesswoo wrote: »

We dont have credit cards to fall back on and we wouldnt be able to pay out any extra expenses up front. And we wouldnt be able to rely on friends and family to lend us cash either as they are all struggling themselves as it is. This really worries me especially as we are travelling with 3 children, 1 of which is a baby.

You mentioned planning ahead.
Instead of being so negative, why not spend some time in the next two weeks maybe getting a credit card.
If that is not possible, then of course you will be struggling... along with your family and friends who cannot help you.

What were you thinking, planning a holiday to Turkey with three young children with no contingency plans in place?

I'm sorry to sound a bit harsh, but wake up.

vix2000

I don't think this is being negative it is being sensible, having a plan of action in case the worst happens. I have asked the same question myself and I do not go until June. I am in the lucky situation where I have got credit cards and family/friends who I know could help me out if I were stranded, but I am not complacent enough to believe that everyone is in that situation. Indeed, when my kids were small we often came home from holiday with just enough money to get the car out of the airport car park!!!!

I have been told that as I also am on a package holiday, the travel company have full responsibility for you if you are delayed on the way back, and so that has reassured me on this front.

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wealdroam that was harsher than needed. I'm sure princesswoo is worried enough. Yes it is a good idea to have contingency in place, not always achieveable, Princesswoo has been wise taking out travel insurance and budgeting for the holiday. Have you always made the right decision in everythign you have ever done?

I hope it is all sorted for you PW, perhaps you could come back on here and let us all know what TC and your insurers said.

shellsuit

wealdroam wrote: »

You mentioned planning ahead.
Instead of being so negative, why not spend some time in the next two weeks maybe getting a credit card.
If that is not possible, then of course you will be struggling... along with your family and friends who cannot help you.

What were you thinking, planning a holiday to Turkey with three young children with no contingency plans in place?

I'm sorry to sound a bit harsh, but wake up.

Wake up? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

We can't get a credit card, so who is to say the OP can get one?

When we go on holiday, we pay for the holiday and take our spends, that's it. When the spends have been spent, that's it!

Should we all not go on holiday if we haven't got a few hundred quid sat somewhere 'just incase'? :cool:

vodkachick68

I have just heard on Sky news that this could go on for months! We are due to go to Greece in Aug...yes i know its 4 months away but even so it is worrying. Another thing is that i haven't purchased travel insurance as of yet,i know it my own stupid fault and i flipping wish i had in hindsight. We have booked through Thomas Cook on a package holiday. Do you think its worth me maybe cancelling the holiday? We still owe £1300.

pretzelnut

I have never wanted nor need a credit card, i am not about to get one - so that should we become stranded i have to spend on it thinking that the insurance will cover it, to find out it wont, no point in getting into debt.

I'd rather just cancel beforehand if possible and go somewhere else later in the year. But reading other threads on here that say thomas cook are coaching people back, so thats 1 thing we can prepare for, if we were to become stuck out there due to no flights.

Of course we have contingencies, perhaps for short delays, money put aside to cover insurance excess should we need to make a claim whilst out there, ie medical etc. but this is unpresidented and we could be stranded for several days maybe longer which we dont have the cash for.

Excuse me but i wasnt aware that you had to have a credit card or loads saved up in the bank to be able to go on holiday. We have saved long and hard for this holiday and if that was the case then me and a lot of others would never go on holiday.

The fact that we are considering our options NOW rather than wait till the last minute and be extremelly disapointed means our eyes are wide open, so please dont tell me to wake up.

But thanks for the unuseful advice, next time i book a holiday, ill remember to look at how much it would cost to drive there, get a train, bus or walk or cycle it and save that money up aswell just incase another volcano decides to go pop.

Im just trying to find out where we stand, and im sure others are too.

I dont want to clog the telephone lines up, as there are actuall people who ARE stranded or who arent sure whats happening with iminent holidays going now or in the next few days. There are plenty of people on here who can provide me with some useful info.

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I still recommend phoning TC. At least then you know where you stand. No one on here can confirm to you what TC or your insurers will actually do, except them. YOur conversation with TC and insurers would be literally 5 - 10 minutes max - they'll be well aware of what they can and will and won't do.

stokegal

I asked that question on here and then saw that my tour operator would either re-book / refund holiday. My only query now is if I can't fly on the Friday (when I'm due to go) but they can get us out on the Sunday / Monday and we then retrn on the Friday would we be entitled to anything as we have missed 2 /3 days of our holiday

hennypenny_2

We also are due to travel in less than 2 weeks time. I'm not so upset if we don't go (only going for a long weekend) but my main concern is getting stranded for any length of time if we do make it to USA in first place. We are having our first holiday without the children but am seriously thinking about cancelling incase we do end up stranded. Does anyone think cancelling now would mean no refund as it is our choice rather than the airline making the decision to cancel?

I would just like to add that wealdroam is not just harsh but rude and insensitive. I thought this forum is for people to post helpful advice to problems, not a place to dish out undeserved criticism.